Improvement in brims of soft hats



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

JAMES W. COREY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT 'IN BRIMS OF SOFT HATS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 108,884, dated November 1, 1870.

I, J AMES W. COREY, of the city of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,'have invented certain Improvements in Brims of Soft Hats, of which the following` is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, sections of brims with stiffening devices applied are illustrated upon an enlarged scale.

Figure 1 is a brim with the stiffenin g device applied in its upper side and covered with a binding. Fig. 2 is a brim curled over the stid'ening device which it incloses; and Fig. 3,' the brim and stit't'ening device curled up into shape and finished. I

The improvement consists in the application of a material that stiffens the brim at its outer edge, and adheres thereto under the heat and pressure of the iron in the finishing process, and which stift'ening device is susceptible of a change in its shape, and whose stiffness may be restored after a change in the style or shape, thus obvi'ating all the practicable evils resulting from the use of metal hoops for this purpose.

Heretofore soft hats, both of felt and cloth, have had their brims'curled and held in shape by means of spring wires or hoops inclosed within the binding, or by means ot' a metal binding. In such hats the shape and curl of the brim are determined at the time of manufacture or introduction of the spring, its relativeA circumference to that of the brim fixing the amount of the curl or front and rear droop. Moreover, such hat-brims cannot have their edges shaped to overhang, as the brims of silk hats are fashioned, but being restrained in position by the spring in the periphery of the brim, its tension must distend the brim to its utmost capacity, and utterly prevent the accomplishment of this desirable feature. I accomplish this object by providing the brim with a stiffener in its outer or edge portion, which shall be capable of shaping to any curve under the heat and pressure of the hatters iron.

l prepare the strip of cotton, woolen, or linen goods saturated in gum-shellac dissolved in water and ammonia, or in alcohol, or in a solution of glue and linseed-oil. When dry, this material is cut into strips oi' required width to suit the area of brim to be stifened and curled.

In some cases, when there is to be little or no overlap or overhanging of the brim, but simply a front and rear droop, I find twisted, felted, or braided material, in the form of tape or cord, very suitable for the purpose.

This stiftener may be secured to thehatbrim in several ways. It may be applied on the upper or the under side of the brim, and be held in place by turning the brim over, so as to inclose it; or it may be made to adhere to either side, and be covered with a plain or fancy binding, or the binding may hold it in place.

The hat, after the stiifening is applied, is

placed on a block, and the brim curled b v the hatters iron, the steam from the moist cloth under the hot iron softening it so that it may be shaped with perfect smoothness, and the dry heat stilf'ening both'the material and the felt of the brim, to which it adheres. Vhen the stiffener, which has been softened by the process of shaping it, recoversits stiffness, the brim will be found set in its new shape, which it will retain.

It is obvious that the shape or curl may be changed with a change of fashion in the manner and with the same facilities as are silk or other stiff-brimmed hats.

What I c laimand desire to secure is- A hat whose brim has inclosed within it or its binding a stiffener of textile goods saturated with shellac or other suitable gum, and capable of being curled or shaped, as herein described.

. JAMES W. COREY. Witnesses:

WILLM. M. GooDINe, EDWARD COLLIER. 

